Methylphenidate solution

Use methylphenidate solution with caution if you have a history of mental or mood problems or alcohol or substance abuse or dependence. Abuse of methylphenidate solution may cause it to not work as well. Abuse may also lead to addiction and mental or mood changes. Do not suddenly stop using methylphenidate solution. Depression and other mental problems may occur. Your doctor should slowly lower your dose over a period of time if you need to stop using it.

Methylphenidate solution is used for:

Treating attention deficit disorders (eg, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD]). It is also used to treat uncontrollable periods of daytime sleep (narcolepsy). It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Methylphenidate solution is a central nervous system stimulant. Exactly how it works is not known.

Do NOT use methylphenidate solution if:

you are allergic to any ingredient in methylphenidate solution

you have severe anxiety, agitation, or tension

you have glaucoma

you have motor tics (involuntary movements), Tourette syndrome, or a family history of Tourette syndrome

you are taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) (eg, phenelzine) or have taken an MAOI within the past 14 days

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

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Before using methylphenidate solution:

Some medical conditions may interact with methylphenidate solution. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding

if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement

if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances

if you have had an allergic reaction to dexmethylphenidate

if you have a history of high blood pressure, heart problems (eg, heart failure, heart defects, fast or irregular heartbeat), blood vessel problems, or heart attack, or if a family member has a history of any of these problems or sudden death

if you have a history of seizures or abnormal electroencephalograms (EEGs)

if you have a history of an overactive thyroid, chronic fatigue, cystic fibrosis, or stomach or bowel problems (eg, blockage, inflammation, narrowing)

if you have a history of mood or mental problems (eg, agitation, anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, psychosis, tension), abnormal thoughts, hallucinations, suicidal thoughts or attempts, or alcohol or other substance abuse or dependence, or if a family member has a history of any of these problems

if you have circulation problems in your hands or feet (eg, Raynaud phenomenon, thromboangiitis obliterans)

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with methylphenidate solution. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

Medicines for high blood pressure (eg, guanethidine, metoprolol) because their effectiveness may be decreased by methylphenidate solution

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if methylphenidate solution may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use methylphenidate solution:

Use methylphenidate solution as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

Methylphenidate solution comes with an extra patient information sheet called a Medication Guide. Read it carefully. Read it again each time you get methylphenidate solution refilled.

Use a measuring device marked for medicine dosing. Ask your pharmacist for help if you are unsure of how to measure your dose.

You may have trouble sleeping while taking methylphenidate solution. If this occurs, taking your last dose before 6 pm may help. Check with your doctor before you change the way that you take methylphenidate solution. If trouble sleeping continues, talk with your doctor.

If you miss a dose of methylphenidate solution, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use methylphenidate solution.

Important safety information:

Methylphenidate solution may cause drowsiness, dizziness, or blurred vision. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use methylphenidate solution with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.

Do NOT take more than the recommended dose without checking with your doctor.

If you are taking methylphenidate solution for an attention deficit disorder, it should be used as a part of a treatment program that includes a variety of treatment measures (eg, psychological, education, social).

If your condition does not get better within 1 month or if it gets worse, check with your doctor.

Serious effects, including heart attack, stroke, and sudden death, have occurred with the use of stimulant medicines in patients with heart defects or other serious heart problems. If you have a heart defect or another serious problem, talk with your doctor about other therapies to treat your condition.

Methylphenidate solution may cause a prolonged (more than 4 hours) or painful erection. This could happen even when you are not having sex. If this is not treated right away, it could lead to permanent sexual problems such as impotence. Contact your doctor right away if this happens.

Methylphenidate solution may cause circulation problems in the hands and feet. Tell your doctor if you have any numbness, pain, tingling, cold feeling, or skin color change (eg, from pale to blue or red) in your hands or feet. Call your doctor right away if you have any unexplained sores or wounds on your fingers or toes.

Tell your doctor or dentist that you take methylphenidate solution before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.

Before you start any new medicine, check the label to see if it has a decongestant in it. If it does or if you are not sure, check with your doctor or pharmacist.

Lab tests, including blood pressure, heart function, complete blood cell counts, and platelet counts, may be performed while you use methylphenidate solution. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.

Methylphenidate solution may affect growth rate and weight gain in CHILDREN and teenagers in some cases. They may need regular growth and weight checks while they take methylphenidate solution.

Caution is advised when using methylphenidate solution in CHILDREN; they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially loss of appetite, stomach pain, weight loss, trouble sleeping, and fast heartbeat.

Methylphenidate solution should not be used in CHILDREN younger than 6 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.

PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using methylphenidate solution while you are pregnant. It is not known if methylphenidate solution is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use methylphenidate solution, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.

When used for long periods of time or at high doses, methylphenidate solution may not work as well and may require higher doses to obtain the same effect as when originally taken. This is known as TOLERANCE. Talk with your doctor if methylphenidate solution stops working well. Do not take more than prescribed.

Some people who use methylphenidate solution for a long time may develop a need to continue taking it. People who take high doses are also at risk. This is known as DEPENDENCE or addiction. Do not suddenly stop taking methylphenidate solution. If you do, you may have WITHDRAWAL symptoms. These may include depression or other mental problems. If you need to stop methylphenidate solution, your doctor will lower your dose over time.

Possible side effects of methylphenidate solution:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

Store methylphenidate solution between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep methylphenidate solution out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

If you have any questions about methylphenidate solution, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

Methylphenidate solution is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.

If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.

This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take methylphenidate solution or any other medicine. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to decide which medicines are right for you. This information does not endorse any medicine as safe, effective, or approved for treating any patient or health condition. This is only a brief summary of general information about methylphenidate solution. It does NOT include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to methylphenidate solution. This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. You must talk with your healthcare provider for complete information about the risks and benefits of using methylphenidate solution.

Disclaimer: This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take this medicine or any other medicine. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to decide which medicines are right for you. This information does not endorse any medicine as safe, effective, or approved for treating any patient or health condition. This is only a brief summary of general information about this medicine. It does NOT include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to this medicine. This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. You must talk with your healthcare provider for complete information about the risks and benefits of using this medicine.

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